kenya - tanzania visa question
 

hi everyone! we are looking at spending a day in nairobi on our way to tanzania, as this seemed to be the most cost-effective flight option. i read in the fodor's guidebook that a single-entry visa for kenya can be used to move freely between kenya and tanzania. does that mean that the kenya visa is valid for tanzania as well, and that we won't need a separate tanzania visa? thanks so much!

We were just there and had to buy a Tanzanian visa as well. We flew into Nairobi then to Kilimanjaro then back to Nairobi in the way to Rwanda and then back to Nairobi.

No it just means that you can re-enter Kenya on a single entry visa after your stay in Tanzania. You still need a separate visa for Tanzania. Will you be in Kenya both before and after Tanzania? If you'll only be in Kenya once (i.e. on your return you'll stay airside in transit at NBO), then a transit visa will suffice. Transit visas do not allow for re-entry.

The reason you would buy a transit visa instead of a single entry is that transit visas are chepaer. And to clarify, you would use the transit visa for your day in Nairobi. If you don't leave the airport, you don't need any kind of visa.

If you plan to stay in Nairobi under 24 hours, then you wil need to purchase a 'transit visa' which costs $10 per person, cash only.
If you plan to stay in Nairobi for more than 24 hours, then you need to purchase a proper Kenya visa, which costs $25 per person, cash only.
Tanzania visa costs $100 per person and you can get it on the border crossing, in Namanga, cash only.

Hope this helps.
Cheers...

There's still talk about the Kenya Visa prices going back to USD$50/person (Transit @ USD$25) for the season as 1st June. So have sufficient funds, just-in-case.

The USD$100/person for Tanzania Visa is for US and Irish Passport holders only; most other countries are at USD$50.

Well I guess from other (safarimama) thread "Single Tourist Visa..... " that Kenya will continue with the reduced rates thru 2010 as had initially been scheduled.

However, in reading the article link in the above thread, it's interesting to note how the Kenyan rep says the reduced rates have been positive, yet a few months ago someone was complaining they hadn't seen any increase in tourism.

Whatever... in the end, for the duration of 2010, it's $25 in your pocket.

thanks so much everyone! we would be only staying 1 night, so i guess the transit visa would do it. we'll plan on having to get the tanzania visa as well. yes, my trip partner is from india, so he only has to pay 50 bucks. how unfair!!! lol!